Casino card games with optional in between side wager

ABSTRACT

A method of playing a combined casino card game combining a standard casino card game with an optional In Between side bet that uses the same cards as played in the standard casino card game. A player makes an optional In Between side wager that the face value of at least one designated in between card falls in between or equals the face value of two designated end cards according to the “rank order” 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A. The casino card game bet and the optional In Between side bet are separate and do not affect the play of the standard casino card game. Preferred embodiments include the In Between side bet combined with casino Blackjack, Baccarat, and Texas Hold&#39;em.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application as a continuation-in-part of utility patentapplication Ser. Nos. 12/471,033 filed May 22, 2009 and 13/310,743 filedDec. 3, 2011.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT NotApplicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to casino card games and particularly to amethod of playing a combined casino card game combining a standardcasino card game with an optional In Between side bet that uses a pairof end cards and an in between card designated from the same cardsplayed in the standard casino card game without altering the play of thestandard casino card game. In addition to the casino card game bet, aplayer may make a separate optional In Between side wager that the facevalue of at least one designated in between card falls in between twodesignated other cards according to the “rank order”2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A. If the in between card and two other cardsall match, a triple match is paid out. The casino card game bet and theoptional In Between side bet are separate and do not affect the play ofthe standard casino card game. Preferred embodiments include the InBetween side bet combined with casino Blackjack, Baccarat, and TexasHold'em.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Gamblers enjoy side betting in games to double the opportunity ofwinning and just to have another opportunity to gamble. But there isalso a need to preserve the integrity of the game being played tomaintain the original unadulterated use of cards and play so that theoriginal card game is not altered by the side betting game. The presentinvention may be applied to any of a variety of casino card gamesincluding Blackjack, Bacarat, and Texas Hold'Em.

One of the most popular gambling card games is Blackjack, also known asTwenty-one or “21”, wherein a player plays against a dealer and theobjective is to beat the dealer's hand by reaching a total point valueclosest to 21, without exceeding twenty-one and/or by having thedealer's point count go over twenty-one.

In Between, Acey-Deucy or Red Dog is an old gambling game wherein eachplayer places a wager, and then two cards are dealt. The player has anoption to place a further wager and a third card is dealt. If the rankvalue of the third card is between the rank values of the first twocards, the player wins both wagers.

Texas Hold'Em is a currently popular casino card game in which eachplayers puts in their initial bets and a dealer will then deal two cards(referred to as pocket cards or hole cards) face down to each player.Once the cards are dealt, each player may look at the player's owncards. Then the players bet, raise, call, or fold their hands. Thedealer burns a card, which means they deal it to one side and it is notused in play, and then deals three cards face down and turns the theecards face up simultaneously which is called the flop. Then anotherround of betting, calling, raising, or folding takes place based on eachplayer's poker hand made with the player's two down cards combined thethree commonly shared “flop cards”. Next the dealer “burns” another cardand then deals a “turn card” face up adjacent to the flop cards followedby another round of betting, calling, raising, or folding. Finally thedealer “burns” another card and then deals a “river card” face up nextto the other community cards. A final round of betting, calling, raisingor folding takes place and a winner is determined based on which playerhas the best five card poker hand out of the player's two down cardscombined with the five up-facing

None of the prior art provides a combined optional In Between sidebetting game within a normally played casino card game with noalteration to the play and card dealing of the casino card game.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,969, issued Feb. 6, 2001 to Green, illustrates ablackjack wagering game in which an order card is dealt to determine theorder of play. If the order card is a predetermined card, the dealer'shand is played before each player's hand, thereby giving an advantage tothe players. In the preferred embodiment, the order card is a card thatis dealt face up in the dealer's hand and the predetermined card is theace of spades. A side wager is also disclosed in which a deck of cardsused in the game has a plurality of card types. The card types are givena relative ranking A side wager card is dealt during the game. If theside wager card is between two cards in a player's hand, then the playerwill win the side wager. In the preferred embodiment, the side wagercard is the same card as the order card. The Green game relies on a playorder determining card (preferably the ace of spades), which play ordercard determines whether the player or players play first (if the playorder card is the ace) or the dealer plays first. Only after that is thein-between bet evaluated. The play order card may be a card dealtface-up to the dealer and may be the same as the dealer card used todetermine whether or not the play order card has a value in-between thevalue of a player's two up cards. Alternately, a separate in-betweencard as a separate combined play order card and in-between card may be aseparate card not dealt to a player or the dealer. The patent does notclaim a blackjack game which uses just the normally dealt blackjackcards as a side bet wherein a player wins if the value of the dealer'sup blackjack card is between the value of the player's two up blackjackcards. Furthermore, the patent does not provide for a player's two cardsmatching a dealer's up card or for any payout dependent on the variancein value of the dealer's up card (used as the in-between card) from thetwo player's up cards.

U.S. Patent Application #20060014577, published Jan. 19, 2006 by Snow,illustrates a Blackjack game with an award modifying feature. Inpreferred embodiments of the invention, an optional or mandatory sidebet wager is made and the bonus award may be won on the basis of anydefined event occurring in the play of the blackjack game, including,but not limited to, any of events in the player's 2-card hand, thedealer's up-card, the combination of the player's 2-card hand and thedealer's up-card, combinations of less than all the player's 2-card handand the dealer's up-card, player's final hand, dealer's final hand,comparisons between player's initial 2-card hand and the dealer'sinitial 2-card hand (usually determined at the end of play or when thedealer's hand is revealed), differences between the player's final handand the dealer's final hand (e.g., final point spread) and the like.

Two U.S. patents, U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,251 issued Oct. 2, 2001 and U.S.Pat. No. 6,491,301 issued Dec. 10, 2002 to Webb, are for a method andapparatus for playing a card game including a variable payoff. A payoutscheme for a card game is based on a numerical difference between aplayer's hand and a dealer's hand. The method is suited for card gameswherein the numerical value of a player's hand affects the outcome ofthe game. Preferably, the game is a Blackjack derivative, wherein thepayout based on the original wager is determined in accordance with anamount by which the player's hand exceeds the dealer's hand, withoutexceeding an upper limit.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,946, issued Oct. 22, 1996 to Parker, provides aBlackjack type game which is played with one or more conventional 52card packs, with a dealer and one or more players, and with scoringaccording to the usual Blackjack conventions. But players have two kindsof bets, an Ante to place before play commences, and a Play bet to placeafter the first deal. The Ante bet remains fixed, but the Play bet maybe increased during the course of play. All bets are forfeit to thedealer if a player loses, but if he wins different odds may be payableon the Ante and Play bets.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,778, issued Jan. 29, 2002 to Lee, shows a method forplaying pointspread blackjack. The invention comprises a method forincreasing the payout for the main wager of the game of blackjack orTwenty-One and/or for providing a side bet opportunity during the gameof blackjack or Twenty-One which are based upon the point-spread betweenthe players hand and the dealers hand. In one embodiment, a pointspreadof 1, 2, 3, or 4 would result in 1.times., 1.5.times., 2.times., or10.times. payout, respectively, of the side wager. In anotherembodiment, a pointspread of 1, 2, 3, or 4 would result in 1.times.,2.times., 3.times., or 5.times. payout, respectively, of a side bet. Inanother embodiment, a pointspread of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 would result in0.5.times., 1.times., 1.5.times., 3.times., or 5.times. payout,respectively, of a side bet. The game allows for variations in the rulesand for other types of side-betting opportunities while maintaining theexcitement of a multiple pointspread payout at the resolution of thehand.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,416, issued Aug. 17, 2004 to Jackson, claims ano-bust blackjack-type game wherein odds or bonuses may be paidaccording to the relative difference between of the player's hand andthe dealer's hand, or between point counts of the player's hand and thedealer's hand.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,465, issued Jun. 27, 2006 to Daines, indicates aside bet which may be implemented in any blackjack-style card gamemethod which provides an opportunity to win a bet based on combinationsof three cards which may be the player's first two cards and thedealer's first card. The player may win the side bet with certaincombinations of cards having different winning payouts.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,879, issued Jul. 29, 2003 to Spur et al, provides amethod of playing Blackjack wherein the player can wager that his handwill be broken by placing a side bet which is referred to as “HitInsurance”. Two aspects of the invention are disclosed. The first aspectallows the player to place the side bet after he has seen his initialhand. If the player has 12 through 16 and the dealer has seven throughace as the upcard, the player is given the option of placing the sidebet that he will be broken when he receives the hit card. In a firstvariation, the player places a side bet against a single hit and canrenew the bet if he loses on the hit. In a second variation, the playerplaces a side bet against multiple hits. In a second aspect of theinvention, the player places a side bet before he is dealt any cards. Ina first variation, the side bet loses if the dealer has 2 through 6 asthe face card. In a second variation, the side bet pushes if the dealerhas 2 through 6 as the up card. The second aspect of the invention mayor may not have Blackjack insurance included in the side bet.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,246, issued Apr. 15, 2003 to Webb, puts forth acasino card game wherein a player makes a first elective wager and isprovided with an opportunity to make a proposition wager. A dealer dealstwo cards, and the players can then wager whether a third card will fallbetween (MID) the first two cards or above (HI) or below (LOW) at leastone of the first two cards. Preferably, the player betting the HI optionor the LOW option will win if the third card is higher or lower,respectively, and of a same suit as at least one of the cards. Thesubsequent electing wager serves to direct the application of the firstelective wager. With the proposition wager, the player wins if at leasttwo of the three cards have a predetermined composite relationship basedon suit and/or rank or three-card poker rankings

U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,111, issued Oct. 10, 2006 to Altomare, concerns amethod for playing a casino card game which utilize a standard deck ofplaying cards containing numbered cards 2-10 and face cards; jack,queen, king and ace, ace being high. A playing surface is used formultiple players and a dealer. Each player position has three cardreceiving dock areas and corresponding wager playing areas thereon and abonus wagering area. Three wagers are placed and a first card is dealtface down to each player. A second card is dealt to each player face upand wherein one of the equal wagers can be withdrawn by the player. Eachplayer has their face down card turned over by the dealer and is dealt alast card face up. If the last card ranks or falls between the displayedcards in the player's hand is then a winner and a pay-off is madedepending on card spread sequence. A double down doubling of wageroption is also available during card play in which all wagers stillremaining on the playing surface are doubled and the player receives areplacement card for the first card dealt.

U.S. Patent Application #20070290443, published Dec. 20, 2007 by Lemberget al, shows a wagering game involving card ranks wherein a player isdealt a card and the dealer is dealt a card, and a player wins if aplayer's card and the dealer's card are of equal rank, or if a player isdealt a second card that falls in rank between a player's card and adealer's card. The player is given an option to exchange his or herinitial card. The player is also given an option to double his or herwager before his second card is dealt. A bonus round can also be offeredwherein a bonus card is dealt and the player wins a bonus if the bonuscard falls between the dealer's card and the player's second card.

U.S. Patent Application #20050054411, published Mar. 10, 2005 byHughs-Baird et al, concerns a gaming device having a high-low gamewherein the game generates a masked target number or symbol that isformed from a plurality of component numbers or symbols. As the game isplayed, the gaming device generates and displays a first predictionnumber that relates to a first component number of the target number. Ifthe generated first prediction number matches (i.e., is the same numberas) the first component number of the target number, the first componentnumber of the target number is revealed to the player and the player isprovided an award based on the displayed first component number of thetarget number and at least one modifier. If the generated firstprediction number does not match the first component number of thetarget number, the gaming device enables the player to input aprediction regarding the first component number wherein the predictionis based on the generated first prediction number. If the player'sprediction is correct, the gaming device reveals the first componentnumber of the target number and the player is provided an award based onthe first component number of the target number. If the player'sprediction is not correct, the gaming device reveals the first componentnumber of the target number and proceeds as described above, to the nextunrevealed component number, if any until each component number isrevealed wherein a greater modifier is used for each provided award. Thegaming device can incorporate any suitable wagering primary or basegame. The gaming machine or device of the invention may include some orall of the features of conventional gaming machines or devices. Theprimary or base game may comprise any suitable reel-type game, cardgame, number game or other game of chance susceptible to representationin an electronic or electromechanical form which produces a randomoutcome based on probability data upon activation of the game from awager made by the player. That is, different primary wagering games,such as video poker games, video blackjack games, video keno, videobingo or any other suitable primary or base game may be implemented intothe invention.

U.S. Pat. No. #7,309,065, issued Dec. 18, 2007 to Yoseloff et al,describes a multi-player automated casino table card game platformenables play of casino table baccarat-type games according to ruleseffected through a processor. Rules may include games similar toBaccarat, Mini Baccarat or alternately Blackjack, with an optional sidebet on a point spread between the player and bank hands.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,801, issued Sep. 14, 2004 to Snow, discloses acasino game that can be played on a gaming table with a base game wagerand an optional side bet bonus wager. The game is preferably a Baccaratderivative or Mini-Baccarat derivative, or alternately Blackjack,wherein there is at least one potential payout on the side bet bonuswager in addition to normal play of the game. One payoff for wagering ona winning hand in the side bet bonus wager (either the player's hand ora banker's hand) is based upon the hand that is wagered upon having anatural (two-card) 8-count or 9-count. A second potential payout on theside bet bonus wager is based upon the size of the difference betweenplayer hand point count and dealer hand point counts. Alternatively, thebonus hand pays only for the highest payout.

What is needed is an optionally bet In Between game combined with any ofa variety of other casino card games, wherein the other casino card gameplay in not altered by the optional In Between bet and the same cardsused in the casino card game are also used in the In Between side bet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an optional bet InBetween game combined with any of a variety of other casino card games,wherein the other casino card game play in not altered by the optionalIn Between bet and the In Between optional side bet uses three of thesame cards used in the playing of the casino card game.

In brief, in the present invention a simultaneous optional bet InBetween game is played with any of a variety of other standard casinocard games using selected cards played in the standard casino card gamefor the In Between cards without interfering with the play of thestandard casino card game.

The optional bet In Between game may be integrated into a new combinedcasino card game with the In Between optional bet game used in astandard casino blackjack or twenty-one game, allowing a player to makean optional In Between side wager that the dealer's first upcard fallsin between the player's first two dealt up cards (cards dealt in thestandard casino blackjack game), according to the “rank order”2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A, and is lost otherwise. The only exception tothis rule is if the player is initially dealt two up cards of the samerank and the dealer's dealt face up card is also of the same rank, whichresults in a triple match payout. The Blackjack bet and the optional InBetween side bet are separate and do not affect the play of the standardcasino blackjack game.

The optional bet In Between game may be integrated into a new combinedcasino card game with the In Between optional bet game used in astandard casino Baccarat game, allowing a player to make an optional InBetween side wager that the first up card of the bank hand is in betweenthe first two up cards of the player hand after the three cards have allbeen turned face up in the standard play according to the rules ofBaccarat.

The optional bet In Between game may be integrated into a new combinedcasino card game with the In Between optional bet game used in astandard casino Texas Hold'Em game, allowing a player to make onoptional In Between side wager that the middle card of the three flopcards is in between the two end cards of the three flop cards after thethree flop cards have been flopped in standard play of the Texas Hold'Emgame.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a new combinedcasino card game allowing an optional In Between side bet for a playerduring the play of a standard casino card game using the cards normallydealt in the standard casino card game and without affecting the play ofthe standard casino card game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of the present invention will be described inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only byway of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in whichdrawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a casino card game playing table layout for astandard casino blackjack card game played in combination with anoptional casino card game of In Between in a side bet showing the playerlayouts and pay tables facing the players and the dealer layout and paytables facing the dealer on the other side of the playing table from theplayers;

FIG. 2 is an exploded plan view showing the Blackjack payout, dealerplay limits, insurance bet with odds, and indication of the three InBetween cards shown in empty elongated curved boxes facing the playerson the layout of FIG. 1 for the standard casino blackjack card gameplayed in combination with an optional casino card game of In Between ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded plan view showing a player layout with demarkedplayer betting locations for the Blackjack bets and the optional InBetween bets and the In Between bet payout table on the casino cardtable of FIG. 1 for the standard casino blackjack card game played incombination with an optional casino card game of In Between of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a simulation of the playing tablelayout of the standard casino blackjack card game played in combinationwith an optional casino card game of In Between of the present inventionshown on a screen of an electronic simulation device showing asimulation of the player layouts and payout tables and the dealer layoutand pay table, a dealer card layout and a player card layout showing theBlackjack cards used for the Blackjack game and demarking which of thethree Blackjack cards are used for the optional In Between bet, and thecontrol areas for the player to activate in making choices during theplay of the Blackjack game;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a simulation of the playing tablelayout of the standard casino blackjack card game played in combinationwith an optional casino card game of In Between of the present inventionshown on a screen of a computer device showing a simulation of showing asimulation of the player layouts and the optional In Between bet payouttable, and the dealer layout and pay table, a dealer card layout and aplayer card layout showing the Blackjack cards used for the Blackjackgame and demarking which of the three Blackjack cards are used for theoptional In Between bet, and the control areas for the player toactivate in making choices during the play of the Blackjack game;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a simulation of a player layout for theplaying table layout of the standard casino blackjack card game playedin combination with an optional casino card game of In Between of thepresent invention shown on a touch screen of a wireless device showing asimulation of a player casino table layout and pay table and showing adealer card layout and a player card layout showing the Blackjack cardsused for the Blackjack game and demarking which of the three Blackjackcards are used for the optional In Between bet, and the control areasfor the player to touch to activate in making choices during the play ofthe Blackjack game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-6, the present invention provides a method of playing astandard casino card game in combination with an optional side bet for acasino card game of In

Between, the optional side bet paid out on designated cards used inplaying the standard casino card game without affecting normal play ofthe standard casino card game, the method comprising the followingsteps:

a) a first step of providing a standard deck of playing cards used forplaying a standard casino card game;

b) a second step of providing a playing layout 10 on an actual casinogaming table, as shown in FIG. 1 or a simulated layout 10 or playerposition 20, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, the layout 10 comprising: at leastone first betting location 25 for at least one player in a playerposition 20 at and at least one bet payout odds indication 33 and 35, asshown in FIG. 2, for playing the standard casino card game; ademarcation 36 of which card used in the standard casino card game isalso designated as the in between card for the In Between optional sidebet and which two cards used in the standard casino card game are alsodesignated as the two end cards for the In Between optional side betwithout altering the play of the standard casino card game; at least oneIn Between casino card game optional second betting location 26; and atleast one In Between optional side bet payout table 27, as shown in FIG.3, for an optional In Between side bet paid out on the designated InBetween cards used in the normal play of the standard casino card game,the In Between side bet payout table 27 for the players facing theplayers and the same side bet payout table 37 for the dealer facing thedealer, displaying payout odds based on a face value of the at least onedesignated in between card relative to the face values of the twodesignated end cards, and how closely the face value of the designatedin between card falls in between the face values of the at least twodesignated end cards according to the at least one In Between payouttable;

c) a third step of placing at least one standard bet on the standardcasino card game in the at least one first betting location 25;

d) a fourth step of placing an optional In Between side bet in the atleast one second betting location 26;

e) a fifth step of dealing cards to each player and cards to the dealerfor playing the standard casino card game;

f) a sixth step of proceeding with the play of the standard casino cardgame;

g) a seventh step of paying out the optional In Between side bet whenthe designated In Between cards are revealed during normal play of thestandard casino card game after the at least one designated in betweencard and the at least two designated end cards have been turned face upin the standard play according to the rules of the standard casino cardgame, cashing out each of the optional bets made on the In Between sidebets according to the following payout: each of the number of playersplacing bets in the optional game of In Between lose the In Between betif a face value of the at least one designated in between card is not inbetween or equal to the face values of the at least two designated endcards, and each of the number of players placing bets in the optionalgame of In Between win the In Between side bet if the face value of theat least one designated in between card is in between or equal to theface values of the at least two designated end cards, so that the InBetween winning bets in the optional In Between game are paid outaccording to the payout odds indicated by the at least one payout table27 for the In Between optional side bet, including the In Between payoutodds of twelve to one for a one card spread, six to one for a two cardspread, and four to one for a three card spread;

h) an eighth step of playing out the standard casino card game using allof the cards dealt in the standard casino card game according to therules of the standard casino card game including the at least onedesignated in between card and the two designated end cards used in thestandard play of the standard casino card game; and cashing out thestandard casino card game bets, thereby playing a combined casino cardgame comprising a standard casino card game combined with an In Betweencasino card game optional side bet using only the cards dealt for thestandard casino card game and conventional play for the standard cardgame.

The seventh step further comprises cashing out the In Between optionalside bet comprises using the following set of odds on the payout table27 of the optional In Between side bet: thirty to one for an equal facevalue, twelve to one for a one card face value spread, six to one for atwo card face value spread, four to one for a three card face valuespread, and one to one for all other face value spreads.

The seventh step further comprises evaluating the face value of the atleast one in between card compared with the face value of the at leasttwo end cards in the In Between optional side bet comprises using theface value rank order 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A.

In FIGS. 1-3, the second step of the combined casino card game maycomprise providing the playing layout 10 on a casino gaming table havingat least one player layout 20 for at least one player sitting at thecasino gaming table having a dealer layout 30 for a dealer at the casinogaming table to play the combined casino card game according to themethod of the present invention.

The second step of the combined casino card game may comprise providingthe playing layout on any of a variety of simulation devices for atleast one player to play the combined casino card game according to themethod of the present invention.

The second step of the combined casino card game may comprise providingthe playing layout on a mechanical simulation device, such as animprinted roll out or fold up layout similar to the casino gaming tablelayout 10 of FIG. 1, sold as a home game or party game, for at least oneplayer to play the combined casino card game according to the method ofthe present invention.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the second step of the combined casino card gamecomprises providing the playing layout on an electronic simulationdevice 50 and 60, having an electronic viewing screen 51 and 61respectively showing the playing layout 10 for at least one player andfurther comprises providing a plurality of control areas 40 on theelectronic viewing screen for the at least one player to activate tocontrol the electronic simulation device in making player choices duringthe play of the combined casino card game according to the method of thepresent invention.

In FIG. 6, the second step of the combined casino card game may compriseproviding the playing layout on a handheld electronic simulation device70 such as a smart phone or tablet, the handheld electronic simulationdevice comprising a touch screen 71 as a means for interacting with thehandheld electronic simulation device 70, the at least one playertouching the screen to control the electronic simulation device inmaking player choices during the play of the combined casino card gameaccording to the method of the present invention.

In FIGS. 4-6, a simulation of the playing table layout 10 of thestandard casino Blackjack card game played in combination with anoptional casino card game of In Between of the present invention shownon a screen 51 of any electronic simulation device 50, in FIG. 4, or ascreen 61 of a computer 60, in FIG. 5, or a touch screen 71 of ahand-held device 70 such as a smart phone or tablet, in FIG. 6, showinga simulation of the player layouts 20, numbered 1-6 for identificationin the electronic play in FIGS. 4 and 5 but only a single playerposition on the handheld device 70 of FIG. 6, and payout tables 27 andthe dealer layout 30 and pay table 37. A dealer card layout showselectronic simulations of the two Blackjack dealer's dealt cards 31 oneup card (U) and one down card (D) and locations for the simulatedindications of additional dealer “hit” cards 32 if needed, and a playercard layout showing the Blackjack cards used for the Blackjack game,including electronic simulations of the two player dealt cards 21 andany player“hit” cards 22 and a possible “double down” card 23 and anynecessary “split” cards 24 and demarking by the IN BET line and doublearrow which of the three Blackjack cards are used for the optional InBetween bet, and the control areas 40 for the player to activate inmaking choices during the play of the Blackjack game, including Hit 41,Stand 42, Surrender 43, Double Down 44, Split 45, Even Money 46, andCash In 47 to be selected electronically by the player for communicationwith the electronic device about the player choices.

The second step of the combined casino card game may comprise providingthe playing layout on an electronic device having a connection to aremote network to play the combined casino card game according to themethod of the present invention.

The second step of the combined casino card game may comprise providingthe playing layout on an electronic device having a connection to aremote network to play the combined casino card game according to themethod of the present invention on an electronic device taken from thelist of electronic devices including a computer, a handheld device, atelephonic device, an entertainment device, and a gaming device.

In FIGS. 1-6, the standard casino card game may comprise standard casinoBlackjack played in combination with an optional casino card game of InBetween in a side bet using the same Blackjack cards as dealt for theBlackjack game and conventional play for the game of Blackjack, andwherein:

the second step of providing a playing layout comprises the In Betweenoptional side bet demarcation designating the first up card dealt to thedealer in the Blackjack casino card game as the at least one designatedin between card for the In Between optional side bet, and designatingthe first two cards dealt to a Blackjack player who has placed anoptional In Between side bet as the designated end cards for the InBetween optional side bet, the optional In Between side bet outcomebeing determined by comparing a face value of the first up card of theBlackjack dealer, the designated in between card, compared with the aface value of the two cards dealt to the Blackjack player, thedesignated end cards;

the seventh step of paying out the optional In Between side betcomprises, after the first up card of the dealer, the designated inbetween card, and the first two dealt cards of each player placing theoptional In Between side bet, the designate end cards, have all beenturned face up in the standard play according to the rules of blackjack,cashing out each of the optional bets on the game of In Betweenaccording to the following payout: each of the number of players placingbets in the optional game of In Between lose the In Between bet if aface value of the first up card of the dealer is not in between or equalto the face values of the first two up dealt cards of the player, andeach of the number of players placing bets in the optional game of InBetween win the In Between bet if the face value of the first up card ofthe dealer is in between or equal to the face values of the first two updealt cards of the player, so that the In Between winning bets in theoptional In Between game are paid out according to a set of odds in theIn Between payout table established for the In Between optional sidebetting steps of the combined casino card game so that the In Betweenwinning bets in the optional In Between game are paid out according tothe payout odds indicated by the at least one payout table for the InBetween optional side bet, the odds comprising: thirty to one for anequal face value, twelve to one for a one card face value spread, six toone for a two card face value spread, four to one for a three card facevalue spread, and one to one for all other face value spreads;

the eighth step comprises playing out the Blackjack game using all ofthe cards dealt in the Blackjack game according to the rules of thestandard casino blackjack game including using the first two dealt cardsof each player and the first up card of the dealer as played in astandard Blackjack casino card game, thereby providing a method ofplaying a combined card game of standard casino Blackjack and anoptional casino card game of In Between in a side bet using the sameBlackjack cards as dealt for the Blackjack game and conventional playfor the game of Blackjack according to the method of the presentinvention.

The first step of providing at least one standard deck of playing cardsmay comprise providing any of the numbers of standard decks of playingcards taken from the list of decks including one deck, two decks, fourdecks, six decks, and eight decks for the combined Blackjack casino cardgame and optional In Between side bet game.

The standard casino card game may alternately comprise a standard casinoBaccarat card game played in combination with an optional casino cardgame of In Between in a side bet using the same Baccarat cards as dealtfor the Baccarat card game and conventional play for the game ofBaccarat, and wherein:

the second step of providing a playing layout comprises the In Betweenoptional side bet demarcation designating the first up card of the bankhand in the Baccarat game as the at least one designated in between cardand designating the first two up cards of the player hand in theBaccarat game as the at least two designated end cards to be evaluatedwith the first up card of the bank hand to determine if a face value ofthe first up card of the bank hand falls between or is equal to the facevalue of the first two up cards of the player hand;

the seventh step of paying out the optional In Between side betcomprises: after the first up card of the bank hand and the first two upcards of the player hand have all been turned face up in the standardplay according to the rules of Baccarat, cashing out each of theoptional bets on the game of In Between according to the followingpayout: each of the number of players placing bets in the optional gameof In Between lose the In Between bet if a face value of the first upcard of the bank hand is not in between or equal to the face values ofthe first two up cards of the player hand, and each of the number ofplayers placing bets in the optional game of In Between win the InBetween bet if the face value of the first up card of the bank hand isin between or equal to the face values of the first two up cards of theplayer hand, so that the In Between winning bets in the optional InBetween game are paid out according to payout odds indicated by the atleast one payout table for the In Between optional side bet, the oddscomprising: thirty to one for an equal face value, twelve to one for aone card face value spread, six to one for a two card face value spread,four to one for a three card face value spread, and one to one for allother face value spreads;

the eighth step comprises playing out the Baccarat game using all of thecards dealt in the Baccarat game according to the rules of the standardcasino Baccarat game including the first two up cards of the player handand the first up card of the bank hand played according to the Baccaratrules, playing out the Baccarat hand according to conventional play fora standard casino Baccarat game, thereby providing a method of playing acombined card game of standard casino Baccarat and an optional casinocard game of In Between in a side bet using the same Baccarat cards asdealt for the Baccarat game and conventional play for the game ofBaccarat according to the method of the present invention.

The standard casino card game may alternately comprise standard casinoTexas Hold'em card game played in combination with an optional casinocard game of In Between in a side bet using the same Texas Hold'em cardsas dealt for the Texas Hold'em card game and conventional play for thegame of Texas Hold'em, and wherein:

the second step of providing a playing layout comprises the In Betweenoptional side bet demarcation designating the middle flop card as the atleast one designated in between card and designating the two end flopcards as the at least two designated end cards to be evaluated with themiddle flop card to determine if a face value of the middle flop cardfalls between or is equal to the face value of the two end flop cards;

the seventh step of paying out the optional In Between side betcomprises: after the flop cards have been turned face up in the standardplay according to the rules of Texas Hold'em, cashing out each of theoptional In Between side bets according to the following payout: each ofthe number of players placing bets in the optional side bet of InBetween lose the In Between bet if a face value of the middle flop cardis not in between or equal to the face values of the two end flop cards,and each of the number of players placing bets in the optional game ofIn Between win the In Between bet if the face value of the middle flopcard is in between or equal to the face values of the end flop cards, sothat the In Between winning bets in the optional In Between game arepaid out according to a set of odds in the In Between payout tableestablished for the In Between optional side betting steps of thecombined casino card game so that the In Between winning bets in theoptional In Between game are paid out according to the payout oddsindicated by the at least one payout table for the In Between optionalside bet, the odds comprising: thirty to one for an equal face value,twelve to one for a one card face value spread, six to one for a twocard face value spread, four to one for a three card face value spread,and one to one for all other face value spreads;

the eighth step comprises playing out the Texas Hold'em casino card gameusing all of the cards dealt in the Texas Hold'em game according to therules of the standard casino Texas Hold'em game including the flopcards, playing out the Texas Hold'em hand according to conventional playfor a standard casino Texas Hold'em card game, thereby providing amethod of playing a combined card game of standard casino Texas Hold'emand an optional casino card game of In Between in a side bet using thesame Texas Hold'em cards as dealt for the Texas Hold'em game andconventional play for the game of Texas Hold'em according to the methodof the present invention.

In use, in the method of the present invention, to begin each round, theplayers or players must place their standard casino card game bets inone location on the table and the optional In Between side bet ifdesired in another location on the table. The dealer proceeds to dealthe cards for the standard casino card game and the standard casino cardgame is played until all of the designated in between cards aredisplayed face up on the table in the course of the playing of thestandard casino card game. Then, the optional In Between bets are paidout according to the payout table and the remainder of the standardcasino card game is played out and paid out.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by wayof illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that variousmodifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of playing a standard casino card gamein combination with an optional side bet for a casino card game of InBetween, the optional side bet paid out on designated cards used inplaying the standard casino card game without affecting normal play ofthe standard casino card game, the method comprising the followingsteps: a) a first step of providing a standard deck of playing cardsused for playing a standard casino card game; b) a second step ofproviding a playing layout comprising: at least one first bettinglocation for at least one player and at least one bet payout oddsindication for playing the standard casino card game; a demarcation ofwhich card used in the standard casino card game is also designated asthe in between card for the In Between optional side bet and which twocards used in the standard casino card game are also designated as thetwo end cards for the In Between optional side bet without altering theplay of the standard casino card game; at least one In Between casinocard game optional second betting location; and at least one In Betweenoptional side bet payout table for an optional In Between side bet paidout on the designated In Between cards used in the normal play of thestandard casino card game, the In Between side bet payout tabledisplaying payout odds based on a face value of the at least onedesignated in between card relative to the face values of the twodesignated end cards, and how closely the face value of the designatedin between card falls in between the face values of the at least twodesignated end cards according to the at least one In Between payouttable; c) a third step of placing at least one standard bet on thestandard casino card game in the at least one first betting location; d)a fourth step of placing an optional In Between side bet in the at leastone second betting location; e) a fifth step of dealing cards to eachplayer and cards to the dealer for playing the standard casino cardgame; f) a sixth step of proceeding with the play of the standard casinocard game; g) a seventh step of paying out the optional In Between sidebet when the designated In Between cards are revealed during normal playof the standard casino card game after the at least one designated inbetween card and the at least two designated end cards have been turnedface up in the standard play according to the rules of the standardcasino card game, cashing out each of the optional bets made on the InBetween side bets according to the following payout: each of the numberof players placing bets in the optional game of In Between lose the InBetween bet if a face value of the at least one designated in betweencard is not in between or equal to the face values of the at least twodesignated end cards, and each of the number of players placing bets inthe optional game of In Between win the In Between side bet if the facevalue of the at least one designated in between card is in between orequal to the face values of the at least two designated end cards, sothat the In Between winning bets in the optional In Between game arepaid out according to the payout odds indicated by the at least onepayout table for the In Between optional side bet, including the InBetween payout odds of twelve to one for a one card spread, six to onefor a two card spread, and four to one for a three card spread; h) aneighth step of playing out the standard casino card game using all ofthe cards dealt in the standard casino card game according to the rulesof the standard casino card game including the at least one designatedin between card and the two designated end cards used in the standardplay of the standard casino card game; and cashing out the standardcasino card game bets, thereby playing a combined casino card gamecomprising a standard casino card game combined with an In Betweencasino card game optional side bet using only the cards dealt for thestandard casino card game and conventional play for the standard cardgame.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the seventh step comprisescashing out the In Between optional side bet comprises using thefollowing set of odds for payout of the optional In Between side bet:thirty to one for an equal face value, twelve to one for a one card facevalue spread, six to one for a two card face value spread, four to onefor a three card face value spread, and one to one for all other facevalue spreads.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the seventh stepcomprises evaluating the face value of the at least one in between cardcompared with the face value of the at least two end cards in the InBetween optional side bet comprises using the face value rank order2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the secondstep of the combined casino card game comprises providing the playinglayout on a casino gaming table having at least one player layout for atleast one player sitting at the casino gaming table having a dealerlayout for a dealer at the casino gaming table to play the combinedcasino card game according to the method of the present invention. 5.The method of claim 1 wherein the second step of the combined casinocard game comprises providing the playing layout on a simulation devicefor at least one player to play the combined casino card game accordingto the method of the present invention.
 6. The method of claim 5 whereinthe second step of the combined casino card game comprises providing theplaying layout on a mechanical simulation device for at least one playerto play the combined casino card game according to the method of thepresent invention.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the second step ofthe combined casino card game comprises providing the playing layout onan electronic simulation device having an electronic viewing screen ofthe playing layout for at least one player and further comprisesproviding a plurality of control areas on the electronic viewing screenfor the at least one player to activate to control the electronicsimulation device in making player choices during the play of thecombined casino card game according to the method of the presentinvention.
 8. The method of claim 5 wherein the second step of thecombined casino card game comprises providing the playing layout on ahandheld electronic simulation device, the handheld electronicsimulation device comprising a touch screen means for interacting withthe handheld electronic simulation device, the at least one playertouching the screen to control the electronic simulation device inmaking player choices during the play of the combined casino card gameaccording to the method of the present invention.
 9. The method of claim5 wherein the second step of the combined casino card game comprisesproviding the playing layout on an electronic device having a connectionto a remote network to play the combined casino card game according tothe method of the present invention.
 10. The method of claim 5 whereinthe second step of the combined casino card game comprises providing theplaying layout on an electronic device having a connection to a remotenetwork to play the combined casino card game according to the method ofthe present invention on an electronic device taken from the list ofelectronic devices including a computer, a handheld device, a telephonicdevice, an entertainment device, a gaming device, and a televisiondevice.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the standard casino card gamecomprises standard casino blackjack played in combination with anoptional casino card game of In Between in a side bet using the sameblackjack cards as dealt for the blackjack game and conventional playfor the game of blackjack, and wherein: the second step of providing aplaying layout comprises the In Between optional side bet demarcationdesignating the first up card dealt to the dealer in the Blackjackcasino card game as the at least one designated in between card for theIn Between optional side bet, and designating the first two cards dealtto a Blackjack player who has placed an optional In Between side bet asthe designated end cards for the In Between optional side bet, theoptional In Between side bet outcome being determined by comparing aface value of the first up card of the Blackjack dealer, the designatedin between card, compared with the a face value of the two cards dealtto the Blackjack player, the designated end cards; the seventh step ofpaying out the optional In Between side bet comprises, after the firstup card of the dealer, the designated in between card, and the first twodealt cards of each player placing the optional In Between side bet, thedesignate end cards, have all been turned face up in the standard playaccording to the rules of blackjack, cashing out each of the optionalbets on the game of In Between according to the following payout: eachof the number of players placing bets in the optional game of In Betweenlose the In Between bet if a face value of the first up card of thedealer is not in between or equal to the face values of the first two updealt cards of the player, and each of the number of players placingbets in the optional game of In Between win the In Between bet if theface value of the first up card of the dealer is in between or equal tothe face values of the first two up dealt cards of the player, so thatthe In Between winning bets in the optional In Between game are paid outaccording to a set of odds in the In Between payout table establishedfor the In Between optional side betting steps of the combined casinocard game so that the In Between winning bets in the optional In Betweengame are paid out according to the payout odds indicated by the at leastone payout table for the In Between optional side bet, the oddscomprising: thirty to one for an equal face value, twelve to one for aone card face value spread, six to one for a two card face value spread,four to one for a three card face value spread, and one to one for allother face value spreads; the eighth step comprises playing out theBlackjack game using all of the cards dealt in the Blackjack gameaccording to the rules of the standard casino blackjack game includingusing the first two dealt cards of each player and the first up card ofthe dealer as played in a standard Blackjack casino card game, therebyproviding a method of playing a combined card game of standard casinoBlackjack and an optional casino card game of In Between in a side betusing the same Blackjack cards as dealt for the Blackjack game andconventional play for the game of Blackjack according to the method ofthe present invention.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first stepof providing at least one standard deck of playing cards comprisesproviding any of the numbers of standard decks of playing cards takenfrom the list of decks including one deck, two decks, four decks, sixdecks, and eight decks.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the standardcasino card game comprises standard casino Baccarat card game played incombination with an optional casino card game of In Between in a sidebet using the same Baccarat cards as dealt for the Baccarat card gameand conventional play for the game of Baccarat, and wherein: the secondstep of providing a playing layout comprises the In Between optionalside bet demarcation designating the first up card of the bank hand inthe Baccarat game as the at least one designated in between card anddesignating the first two up cards of the player hand in the Baccaratgame as the at least two designated end cards to be evaluated with thefirst up card of the bank hand to determine if a face value of the firstup card of the bank hand falls between or is equal to the face value ofthe first two up cards of the player hand; the seventh step of payingout the optional In Between side bet comprises: after the first up cardof the bank hand and the first two up cards of the player hand have allbeen turned face up in the standard play according to the rules ofBaccarat, cashing out each of the optional bets on the game of InBetween according to the following payout: each of the number of playersplacing bets in the optional game of In Between lose the In Between betif a face value of the first up card of the bank hand is not in betweenor equal to the face values of the first two up cards of the playerhand, and each of the number of players placing bets in the optionalgame of In Between win the In Between bet if the face value of the firstup card of the bank hand is in between or equal to the face values ofthe first two up cards of the player hand, so that the In Betweenwinning bets in the optional In Between game are paid out according topayout odds indicated by the at least one payout table for the InBetween optional side bet, the odds comprising: thirty to one for anequal face value, twelve to one for a one card face value spread, six toone for a two card face value spread, four to one for a three card facevalue spread, and one to one for all other face value spreads; theeighth step comprises playing out the Baccarat game using all of thecards dealt in the Baccarat game according to the rules of the standardcasino Baccarat game including the first two up cards of the player handand the first up card of the bank hand played according to the Baccaratrules, playing out the Baccarat hand according to conventional play fora standard casino Baccarat game, thereby providing a method of playing acombined card game of standard casino Baccarat and an optional casinocard game of In Between in a side bet using the same Baccarat cards asdealt for the Baccarat game and conventional play for the game ofBaccarat according to the method of the present invention.
 14. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the standard casino card game comprisesstandard casino Texas Hold'em card game played in combination with anoptional casino card game of In Between in a side bet using the sameTexas Hold'em cards as dealt for the Texas Hold'em card game andconventional play for the game of Texas Hold'em, and wherein: the secondstep of providing a playing layout comprises the In Between optionalside bet demarcation designating the middle flop card as the at leastone designated in between card and designating the two end flop cards asthe at least two designated end cards to be evaluated with the middleflop card to determine if a face value of the middle flop card fallsbetween or is equal to the face value of the two end flop cards; theseventh step of paying out the optional In Between side bet comprises:after the flop cards have been turned face up in the standard playaccording to the rules of Texas Hold'em, cashing out each of theoptional In Between side bets according to the following payout: each ofthe number of players placing bets in the optional side bet of InBetween lose the In Between bet if a face value of the middle flop cardis not in between or equal to the face values of the two end flop cards,and each of the number of players placing bets in the optional game ofIn Between win the In Between bet if the face value of the middle flopcard is in between or equal to the face values of the end flop cards, sothat the In Between winning bets in the optional In Between game arepaid out according to a set of odds in the In Between payout tableestablished for the In Between optional side betting steps of thecombined casino card game so that the In Between winning bets in theoptional In Between game are paid out according to the payout oddsindicated by the at least one payout table for the In Between optionalside bet, the odds comprising: thirty to one for an equal face value,twelve to one for a one card face value spread, six to one for a twocard face value spread, four to one for a three card face value spread,and one to one for all other face value spreads; the eighth stepcomprises playing out the Texas Hold'em casino card game using all ofthe cards dealt in the Texas Hold'em game according to the rules of thestandard casino Texas Hold'em game including the flop cards, playing outthe Texas Hold'em hand according to conventional play for a standardcasino Texas Hold'em card game, thereby providing a method of playing acombined card game of standard casino Texas Hold'em and an optionalcasino card game of In Between in a side bet using the same TexasHold'em cards as dealt for the Texas Hold'em game and conventional playfor the game of Texas Hold'em according to the method of the presentinvention.